Sire Bass Club!

[erdyland]

Well i have a word for those thinking to buy v5 5 string jazz bass.

Imho, if you dime all knobs, you have very decent jazz bass sound, if you solo neck, there is decent neck pickup sound which is i don't use often

if you solo bridge pickup, this is where sire v5 model lacks sonic refinement. (my main bass is Fender American Marcus Miller Jazz 5)

Bridge is ok, tuners is bad and you should replace them..

my bass is kind a heavy btw.

My final opinion is, this is a superb backup bass, and can moddable.

If you want a top notch sound, get a sadowsky or aguilar preamp and you are good to go...

 

[OldShark]

Damn, I literally just bought a V5R on Sweetwater an hour ago (backordered, but won't get to play it until Xmas Day anyway)!

The new "2023 models" were announced in this July (according to their blog) and have been available some weeks later, so they are still "brand new". I don't know whether anyone in this huge thread owns one of those new models yet.

I guess that release period is typical for Sire, so I would not expect next year's models before mid 2024.
Please note, that's just my personal guess work...

 

[KindofBlues71]

The new "2023 models" were announced in this July (according to their blog) and have been available some weeks later, so they are still "brand new". I don't know whether anyone in this huge thread owns one of those new models yet.

I guess that release period is typical for Sire, so I would not expect next year's models before mid 2024.
Please note, that's just my personal guess work...

I've been wanting the V5R for awhile so I probably will be happy with it. I love my Ibanez Talman but the bridge is giving me problems (which isn't surprising with a sub-$200 bass). Only 32 days and counting until BassMass.

 

[dave64o]

I bought a V5R five string back in June as a backup bass for outdoor gigs now that we're playing more festivals. After using it the first few times, it's in regular rotation and not just a "beater", getting it's fair share of playing time going up against two USA Stingrays and a Big Al.

If you like a passive Jazz bass, I'm sure you'll be very happy with a V5R and, factoring the price into the equation, I'm sure you'll be extremely happy with it.

The only negative I've found is that there was some neck dive, but replacing the original tuners (which worked well) with lightweight Gotoh DB528 made a difference.

EDIT: Full disclosure, I also changed the pickguard. Since the rosewood fretboard has pearl blocks, I thought replacing the original black pickguard with a white pearl pickguard would be a significant cosmetic improvement. *I* think I was right, but since this is a cosmetic thing and therefore 100% subjective, I'm not counting it as a negative. It looked good with the black, but I think the pearl makes it look even better. YMMV.

 

[Bassray_82]

Bought myself a birthday/Christmas gift in the shape of a sire v3p jazz in tobacco sunburst. It arrived yesterday and despite reading all of the positive reviews I was still sceptical about how good it would be.

So thoughts straight out of the box - wow what an incredible bass, can't fault the build quality, intonation is perfect, tone is great and it just looks incredible. IMHO it plays like a much more expensive fender jazz but with a brighter and fuller tone.

Bought it as a backup bass but I'm so impressed with it I'm taking it to rehearsals on Friday with a view to gig with it. After I've rehearsed with it I'll see if I need to lower the action at all, but that should be the only change I need to make.

 

[KindofBlues71]

I got a message from Sweetwater that the V5R in tobacco sunburst I ordered won't be in stock until after Xmas, so not the merriest of BassMasses but I'm an adult and can patiently wait...

 

[LoveThatBass]

I just received my Tobacco Burst D5 from Sweetwater Monday. Really cool bass. Setup superb. First bass I have ever bought where Intonation spot on using virtual strobe tuner, neck and action very nice, no high frets. Sounds and plays well. I couldn't even say this about the Sire P7 or V5 I bought.

 

[dave64o]

I got a message from Sweetwater that the V5R in tobacco sunburst I ordered won't be in stock until after Xmas, so not the merriest of BassMasses but I'm an adult and can patiently wait...

That's the one I bought (the Tobacco Sunburst). It's a beautiful finish.

And it'll be worth the wait.

 

[Ottertail]

I don't even own a Sire yet and I'm already thinking about replacing the bridge. I like the slotted design of the Sandberg, but the cam and full contact design of the Babicz is very appealing! Would love to see an amalgamation.

@Cullen G how is that Babicz treating you?

 

[Cullen G]

I'm beyond impressed by it. A few reasons:
photos can't do it justice.
A single screw provides all saddle height adjustment, extremely precisely.
The locking screws are amazing, taking all the normal slop away.
It's simply an advanced design, which becomes immediately obvious to an engineer.

Does that help any?

 

[Cullen G]

Oh yeah ... It seems to impact the tonal differences the same as a high mass bridge is supposed to, (less brightness and more sustain).
Aaaaand it's way lighter than the factory Sire bridge. So you save weight and get the "high mass bridge advantages" as well.

 

[yankeeblues]

I bought a V5R five string back in June as a backup bass for outdoor gigs now that we're playing more festivals. After using it the first few times, it's in regular rotation and not just a "beater", getting it's fair share of playing time going up against two USA Stingrays and a Big Al.

If you like a passive Jazz bass, I'm sure you'll be very happy with a V5R and, factoring the price into the equation, I'm sure you'll be extremely happy with it.

The only negative I've found is that there was some neck dive, but replacing the original tuners (which worked well) with lightweight Gotoh DB528 made a difference.

EDIT: Full disclosure, I also changed the pickguard. Since the rosewood fretboard has pearl blocks, I thought replacing the original black pickguard with a white pearl pickguard would be a significant cosmetic improvement. *I* think I was right, but since this is a cosmetic thing and therefore 100% subjective, I'm not counting it as a negative. It looked good with the black, but I think the pearl makes it look even better. YMMV.

Where did you find a 5 string white pearl pickguard? I've been looking for one for my V5 and can't find anything.

 

[Cullen G]

Where did you find a 5 string white pearl pickguard? I've been looking for one for my V5 and can't find anything.

Please forgive my slightly different answer, but you can buy pretty much any pickguard material online.
Use your old pickguard as a template, or modify to taste. I've done this several times with perfect results.

 

[Ottertail]

I'm beyond impressed by it. A few reasons:
photos can't do it justice.
A single screw provides all saddle height adjustment, extremely precisely.
The locking screws are amazing, taking all the normal slop away.
It's simply an advanced design, which becomes immediately obvious to an engineer.

Does that help any?

Do both the original and the Babicz hide all the screw holes from each other? Meaning if you go back to factory, are the new holes also hidden? I *think* so but not sure…

 

[Cullen G]

Yer drilling new holes on the U5. So I only know about that model for sure.
It hid the old screw holes by a salamander's whisker.

 

[dave64o]

Where did you find a 5 string white pearl pickguard? I've been looking for one for my V5 and can't find anything.

I got it from WD Music but it wasn't an "off the rack" pickguard. I had to send them a tracing.

Before:

After:

Honestly, the black looks great and the black outer edge of the buest ties nicely with it. But I like how the white pearl ties in with the blocks even better.

But, tomayto, tomahto, ya know. They both work.

 

[CoughSyrup]

I got it from WD Music but it wasn't an "off the rack" pickguard. I had to send them a tracing.

Before:

View attachment 5260802



After:

View attachment 5260803

Honestly, the black looks great and the black outer edge of the buest ties nicely with it. But I like how the white pearl ties in with the blocks even better.

But, tomayto, tomahto, ya know. They both work.

Looks great either way. I'd be switching them every 6 months anyway. Do you know if WD Music kept the tracing so others can order one too?

 

[dave64o]

I don't know. That's a good question.

I just looked at their web site and didn't see any Sire instruments listed: Invalid Link Removed

 

[LoveThatBass]

I don't know. That's a good question.

I just looked at their web site and didn't see any Sire instruments listed: Invalid Link Removed

As he noted he did a tracing and had them custom make it. They list "Custom Pickguards"

Here is a place that has some Sire Jazz bass pickguards
Products - The Music Alliance

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...ef2e23&afSmartRedirect=y&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

SIRE - Guitar Parts Center

 

[Rod Barchetta]

I finally had the time to put my Ernie Ball Colbalt flats on my M5. I had to string thru the bridge to make the long scale strings work. I gave my fretboard a nice cleaning while I was at it. I had to drill out the hole for the B string to 3/16" to get the string to fit. It was a bit nerve racking, but not too difficult. Let me play them for a few days, but my initial reaction is "mwah".